leading lady

noun

Definition of leading ladynext
as in leading man

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Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of leading lady This portrayal was rare in the early 2000s and prompted a shift in audience expectations, as people began to consider the different ways a leading lady could, or should, look. — Karla Cote, Variety, 15 June 2026 Kilpatrick is Deborah’s peer, though our leading lady would probably prefer to not have any of those, though her aesthetic is not one that Ava’s boss understands. — Rachel Elspeth Gross, Forbes.com, 30 May 2026 The pair ultimately found their leading lady — relative newcomer Deva Cassel, daughter of Vincent Cassel and Monica Bellucci — in Italy. — Daniel Vaillancourt, Los Angeles Times, 11 May 2026 On the path of committing to the bit, Hathaway and her film diverge in terms of quality; the movie is awe-inspiringly ill-begotten, but its leading lady deserves a medal for finding something juicy amid the muck. — Chris Feil, Vulture, 1 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for leading lady
Recent Examples of Synonyms for leading lady
leading man
Noun
  • The Hollywood leading man before his death made his mark in such films as Jurassic Park, The Piano, Dead Calm and In the Mouth of Madness.
    — Etan Vlessing, HollywoodReporter, 16 July 2026
  • Herro and Adebayo came together in the wake of social-media posts from Herro questioning Adebayo’s stature as a Heat leading man, in light of what Herro questioned in those posts as Adebayo’s offensive deficiencies.
    — Ira Winderman, Sun Sentinel, 16 July 2026
Definition of leading man

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leading ladies
leading lady
leading man
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Cite this Entry

“Leading lady.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/leading%20lady. Accessed 22 Jul. 2026.

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